Hurricanes Poua have seen off a fast-finishing Matatū side, clinging to a 25-24 win in Christchurch.
A 20-minute period following halftime saw the Poua take control of the game, with a double from Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly and a try to lock Joanah Ngan-Woo seeing the side turn around an 11-point halftime deficit to take a six-point lead into the final 15 minutes.
Matatū threw plenty at the Poua defence to try to swing the game back in their favour, and ultimately cracked it through fullback Renee Holmes, who scored her second of the day. Holmes was unable to convert her own try, leaving Matatū trailing by a single point.
They continued to press forward and with a penalty deep inside Poua territory, they had a choice to make. Ultimately, they opted to kick for the line to try and push the ball over the tryline. They went close, but were held up over the line and the Poua were able to close out a slim victory for their first of the campaign.
Hurricanes Poua 25 (Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly 2, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Joanah Ngan-Woo tries; Carys Dallinger con, Isabella Waterman pen)
